The Tank Additional Capability Enhancement (TIYK, Tanklara Ilave Yetenek Kazandirlmasi) – M60T Project, which defines the Fire Control System as the brain of Main Battle Tanks, has reached its final stage of modernization by localizing the electronic systems on M60T Tanks. All electronic systems on the M60T Tanks have been made producible with national capabilities, eliminating external dependencies except for the power group. The TIYK M60T First Tank Delivery Ceremony, initiated by the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) to meet the modernization needs of the Land Forces Command, was held in Sereflikoçhisar with the participation of Defense Industry President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, Deputy Minister of National Defense Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi, Land Forces Commander General Selçuk Bayraktaroqlu, Aselsan General Manager Ahmet Akyol, representatives from the Turkish Armed Forces, and the defense industry.
During the ceremony, SSB President Görgün said: “Difficulties in maintenance and sustainment, as well as the problems posed by countries providing products and services, have led us to become a country that investigates, develops, produces, and provides unique solutions. With the approval of our President, our Executive Committee initiated the Tank Additional Capability Enhancement Project to improve the M60 Tanks in our inventory. Under this project, as mentioned, the focus was on shaping the tank’s essential elements, including the fire control system, with domestic design products.”
Land Forces Commander General Selçuk Bayraktaroqlu stated at the ceremony: “As a result of the efforts we are making to make our Land Forces more effective and stronger, today we are adding additional capabilities to the M60T tanks. This will enable us to detect the enemy earlier, strike more accurately, and destroy from a greater distance. I am proud that this tank, fully integrated with indigenous and national defense industry products, is entering inventory.”
Aselsan is the only company in the world that produces all electronic systems used in a tank and highlighted their achievements in tank modernization worldwide. The delivery ceremony included live firing with the modernized tank equipped with the Aselsan VOLKAN-M Fire Control System, demonstrating its capabilities. The tank was manned by Uzman Mühendis Büsra Doqru from the project team, and the targets were successfully hit. Continuing the modernization activities under the FIRAT-M60T Project, the Fire Control System, described as the brain of Main Battle Tanks, has been localized by Aselsan within the Tank Additional Capability Enhancement (TIYK) – M60T Project. At this stage, all electronic systems on M60T tanks can be produced with national capabilities, eliminating external dependencies except for the power group. Under the FIRAT-M60T Project, all M60 tanks in the Turkish army’s inventory were modernized to the M60T configuration, enhancing their capabilities against anti-tank threats and terrorist elements.
The TIYK-M60T Project, initiated to provide additional capabilities and modernize the existing systems, aims to replace the foreign-made Fire Control System with the National Fire Control System VOLKAN-M. The following subsystems were integrated into the M60T tank under the project: VOLKAN-M Fire Control System, Tank Command Control Communication, Information System, Additional Armor Protection and Crew Seats. In addition to tank integrations, a Live Turret Training Model and Factory Level Maintenance/Repair (FASBAT) before delivery of tanks were included in the project. The integration of the systems into M60T tanks and the factory-level maintenance and repair activities are carried out at the Kayseri 2nd Main Maintenance Factory. Additional armor protection is supplied by ROKETSAN, and crew seats are provided by T-Kalip. At this stage, two modernized M60T tanks have been introduced into the Land Forces Command inventory. In the upcoming phases of the project, the modernization is expected to be extended to other M60T tanks in the Land Forces Command inventory.
